Here We Go Again

The Youth Services crew is back in the saddle again. It’s Monday and we are sitting in Logan airport waiting for the first leg of our trip back to the Margaret Okari School. We’ve eaten dinner and are listening to Bill tell AYS travel stories (anyone remember when AYS went to New Orleans to help the victims of Katrina?). Honestly, does anyone tell better stories than Bill Fahey? Anyone? We didn’t think so.

Our current travel crew consists of Bill and Summer Fahey, Tony Lombardi, Andy Doherty and David Tanklefsky. We arrive in Amsterdam tomorrow morning where we are meeting up with Pete Michelinie and Thomas Blanford. Pete checked in a few hours ago from JFK where he had flown in to from Portland, Oregon. The plan is to get into Nairobi Tuesday evening and try to meet up with Andoverite Lisa Mueller, who now lives in Nairobi with her husband Kristofer and her young daughter Grace. Wednesday morning we are leaving for the village of Kisii for four days of recording, art projects and spending time with the students of the school and the villagers. This afternoon at the AYS Pearson Street home we packed a ton of art supplies and other items for the students including candy, music paper and writing utensils. A ton of stuff is packed inside a big surfboard case. We brought a guitar, a bunch of cameras and digital media stuff in addition to the recording equipment. We ain’t rollin’ light this time around.

Last night a bunch of us had dinner at Bertucci’s in North Andover and were treated to a great presentation by Peg Campbell, a big supporter of the Margaret Okari School and someone who has been a great help in getting this trip off the ground.

We just ate some $19 burritos from Fresh City and Summer got a burger from Fuddruckers (we nabbed a few of her fries when she wasn’t looking shhhh don’t tell anyone). Departing for Amsterdam in 39 minutes! Talk to you in Africa!

-From the four rookies and their fearless leader.